Challenge your assumptions about search and learn how to hone your searching skills to set yourself apart from non-information professionals. Artificial intelligence, algorithmic-driven search results, machine learning, mobile initiatives, voice interfaces, and innovative technologies alter how we create searches, find, and evaluate retrieved material, and teach others to be better searchers.

Search tools are in a constant state of flux. Some disappear. New ones promise the almost impossible. Search engines add, change, and remove search functionality on a regular basis. This makes it difficult to keep up to date, to teach good search practice, and to remain on top of current practice.

To plan for the future, we must understand the present, both in terms of search and how this plays out for our clients, students and colleagues.

Search Skills Academyfocusses on the fundamental skills, the practical approaches to faster, better and more effective searching, and important and useful resources. This workshop features hands-on search exercises, with intriguing research questions and illustrative strategies, plus demonstrations and practical examples of search skills.

In libraries we spend so much time curating our content and services that sometimes we don’t put enough focus on telling people about what we do. We do so much, but how do we ensure people hear about what we offer, and understand what we do?

In this hands-on workshop we’ll look at:

Delegates will get a marketing campaign document template to work on in the session and then take back to their own institutions to develop.

Yvonne has researched and worked alongside many starts ups in the scholarly communications ecosystem. From this experience, she draws examples of how innovation and collaboration can happen across different information sectors.  Yvonne encourages us all to accelerate innovation through collaboration.

How can you design an iconic customer experience that will draw in curious users? Adopting innovative approaches, such as design thinking, can help you distinguish your customers, their journeys and their needs.

Two case studies showcasing how user research can influence strategic service design.  The Mass Observation Archive set out to explore the user experience and will use its findings to develop its offerings. Bodleian Libraries uses insights into *why* students give the feedback they do to re-conceptualise physical library spaces.

A session of enhanced and equitable user experiences. From ‘signing’ books for the hearing impaired, to using tech to help achieve equitable access, and creating reciprocal communication processes, hear how libraries are using cutting-edge tech to get closer to users and how they are planning to move forward.

The National Library of Scotland undertook a series of user experience research studies to inform future planning as well as to gain some experience with these techniques. At the University of Calgary, a rigorous user discovery process including booth discussions, library staff interviews, and remote unmoderated usability tests was used to guide a website redevelopment process. Both case studies explore the true value of customer intimacy.

The University of Hertfordshire is using usage and engagement analytics to review its service offer with its academic staff. The findings inform purchasing decisions and school engagement action plans, and academic staff can now analyse in depth their School's usage of print resources, reading lists, e-resources and library services. The repository team at the University of Westminster worked closely with practice-based research groups in arts and architecture to improve and redesign an organisational research repository.  The result was better support for non text-based research outputs such as artefacts, exhibitions and digital or visual media, and their creators.

Two case studies about improving the user experience through automation. Roche designed a bot to answer front line queries - is it a fad or is it the future? The University of Calgary undertook a large scale implementation of 16 reserve book kiosks. What were the usage patterns and how has the service model changed? 

Around the world public libraries are facing the dual challenges of competition and relevancy. This is the story of a compelling global library journey that resulted in an innovative and creative new library strategy for Dubai. The re-envisioned strategy made the way for new platforms, services and spaces that truly engage library users.

A session exploring the future intersection of libraries and AI. What is the role of data and AI in libraries and the wider world of scholarly communications?  

An intelligent logistics system is significantly changing work processes at libraries in Denmark and Finland.  Its algorithm provides fully automated floating collections and accurate space management. How was the system developed, and how is it impacting libraries?  Driven by a desire to improve online communication with customers, a UK university library bit the bullet and invited all library staff to peer review enquiry work.

Case studies and examples of libraries learning from other sectors and platforms.  Libraries can learn a lot from museums, including their inspirational use of design and their ability to tackle social challenges. Leeds Beckett University Library decided to mimic online shopping experiences to make the most of its implementation of the Talis Aspire Reading list system. 

Susana and Indira share their insights about how the business process review helped to unlock change in the ILO Library, by removing inefficiencies, resolving the root causes of operational problems and increasing the quality of services. Amy shares her data driven decisions toolkit which gives practical tools for data planning, collection analysis and service mapping.

Radical change doesn't have to be rapid. Over five years, an understaffed team at UTC doubled in size, repaired and fostered institutional relationships, and took on more responsibilities. In 2017, the Maps Reading Room at the National Library of Scotland was facing significant challenges, including moving to a smaller reading room and work area, the loss of three long serving members of staff, and the need to drastically improve its digital capability. Effective change was underpinned by involving staff in decisions that affected them, implementing a recruitment policy with a greater focus on digital skills, and introducing an exhaustive training programme in collection and digital skills.

A New York community college library developed a visual outreach campaign to educate students on issues such as diversity, gender, inclusion, and local history. Campaigns include the poster campaign "I STAND", proclaiming support for undocumented students, and an inspirational campaign for Women's History Month featuring students and library resources. A slide show of the images will also be on display throughout the conference. 

In this session we explore both how librarians are leading the way when it comes to developing digital literacy programmes for others, and how they can transform their own digital skills. In Lithuania, the library collaborated with IT colleagues to create a Moodle-based information and media literacy website. Libraryskills.io curates many learning resources created by and for the library community and aims to promote new, inventive approaches to upskilling for library staff.

Hear how libraries are supporting and developing digital inclusion and creativity in communities. In Sweden, public libraries are the perfect place to train the 10% of the population who are currently outside the digital society. In the UK, Hertfordshire's CreatorSpace areas showcase new tech to people of all ages, while Norfolk public libraries hosted a month-long celebration of digital creativity to address digital exclusion. A total of 58 events attracted new audiences and gave families new digital experiences.

Interactive tools offer engaging opportunities. In the USA, a college empowers ESOL and inclusion students and enables others to interact with student ideas. The British Library working with the University of Lancaster and the Alan Turing Institute used the Minecraft platform to encourage young people to engage with literature in a fun and interactive way. Libraries around the world are collaborating to provide live reference services beyond their library walls.

The liberated library movement aims to diversify library collections and encourages participation and collaboration between library staff, academics and students. Many people are involved with the liberation work at Goldsmiths Library including students, subject librarians and academic skills lecturers.  In this session Marilyn Clarke describes the work and presents filmed conversations with a number of people from the ‘Liberate our Library Working Group’ all of whom are striving towards impactful social change.

Marshall Breeding explores the impact of open source resource management and discovery systems and presents a summary of trends. Lis Parcell explores what it means to be an open practitioner, providing some pointers to sources of open educational resources (OERs) and looks at how librarians can help their communities get to grips with OERs for learning and teaching.

Kajal Odedra is the Executive Director of Change.org and the author of Do Something. Kajal will talk about engaging hearts and minds and the power of communities to bring about collaborative change.

How can libraries meet the evolving digital preferences of their remote users? Solutions include virtual reference services, mobile-friendly collections, and virtual co-curricular events. Explore tactics for leveraging existing and emerging technology infrastructure in preparation for a virtual library of the future. 

A session on collaborative scholarship projects.  At Erasmus University in the Netherlands the library collaborates with faculty to influence curriculum design, ensuring information skills are embedded and integrated across the entire curriculum.  A collaboration between the British Library and UCL provided students with real-world, digital scholarship learning experiences structured around wrangling the British Library's public domain datasets. Students were able to explore and develop technical skills such as data curation, software knowledge, archival research, report writing, project development, and collaborative working practices, as well as digital scholarship learning experiences.

The University of Sussex designed a new library service for distance learning students using digital resources, online tools, and a new VLE. In Texas, ePortfolios provide a powerful and comprehensive digital resumé for scholars and form a critical element of their digital literacy development.

Following this session, UKeiG will present the Jason Farradane Award, given to an individual or a group of people in recognition of outstanding contribution to the information profession.

This session highlights the many ways libraries support and guide the research process.  How do institutions involved in web archiving develop and support research services? In Norway librarians work towards open science and open data by providing holistic data management support. The International Labour Organization provides a digital repository that supports the needs of its researchers around the world. 

Forward-thinking library professionals in the US, UK, and Australia are providing innovative STEM-related programmes and services. This session shares the very best examples of innovative library-led STEM learning.

This expert panel will take their best shot at predicting what skills, new roles, and different opportunities will be open to us in the future, both from the perspective of the practitioner and the educator.

Programming, coding and digital skills are becoming increasingly valuable to a variety of library users. How can librarians, who may not have expert knowledge in these topics, support colleagues and patrons in developing these skills? The University of Sussex harnessed open source training to run Library Code Camp - self-led coding camps for staff and hands-on workshops for students. The National Library of Estonia rolled out a digital competence training programme across its organisation with training led by members of the library team. 

The search world continues to evolve. Innovations driven by machine learning, predictive analytics and other artificial intelligence technologies happen with astonishing speed. It's the responsibility of librarians to stay current with changes in search, both for teaching purposes and in our own research endeavours. Marydee and Arthur share their top takeaway tips. Innovation occurred at the University of Portsmouth Library with the development of a mobile-friendly web-based book finding tool that sends users a bitmapped image with a custom URL showing the highlighted shelving section(s) where the desired book or subject should be shelved.  Responsive web design means that the images display clearly on smartphones, allowing users to carry a visual guide to finding the book or subject with them as they navigate the library.

An overview of modern marketing techniques that can be used to promote library services attractively and efficiently.

In this session we hear cool case studies of low-cost high impact library marketing initiatives that seek to engage and connect in new and clever ways. The Burlington public library in the US designed a programme to craft, record, publish and curate its own videos to promote collections and programming. The University of Worcester in the UK built a dedicated library-based Student Engagement Team with a focus on promoting student voices and embedding a sustainable culture of engagement with library services. A new framework for student engagement helps them plan engagement projects and communicate the value of the library’s work to students, service leads and the wider university community.

Success stories showcase how podcasts can reach and engage reluctant or lapsed users. In Denmark, a library launched a music podcast and set out to feature members of the public in its new broadcasting – and a community manager finds new ways of placing content. At a UK school, podcasting with students improves their tech and teambuilding skills as they work together to produce their weekly ‘Booklings Chat' podcast.

A session about building communities of librarians, advocating for libraries, making yourself heard online and keeping your brand fresh and authentic. The Libfocus blog and Twitter account help build connections, support the exchange of ideas, and engage in advocacy for the library community. Communities of practice and circles of kindness have helped Kim Tairi build a digital identity. This session also includes practical tips on how to make yourself heard on digital platforms.

Silvia Modig has been a TV and radio host, spent eight years in the Finnish parliament and is now an MEP. She is also a librarian. In this session she describes how much Finland loves its libraries, considers what lessons we can all learn from this approach, and reflects on the ILI experience.